In the past, there was a time when they were so hungry they stole from the collective farm. It was Henry who, out of loyalty, took the blame for everyone.
Compared to them, Logan displayed a kind of cunning and hypocrisy that was unusual for his age. Since arriving in the countryside, he had been very deliberate in trying to make a good impression. He wouldn't lift a finger to help with small tasks around the youth camp but would eagerly assist the local villagers with their work.
He never helped silently; he made sure the village leaders were well aware of his contributions. He was good at self-promotion, often exaggerating his small efforts into grand achievements. The naive villagers were taken in by his act, seeing him as a role model. In truth, Logan was rotten to the core, treating people with a cold, calculating approach, always prioritizing his own interests. His kindness was a performance, and the moment there was nothing to gain, his true nature would show.
Lily exchanged a knowing glance with Henry, who understood and restrained his rising anger, deciding not to engage with Logan. They had been discussing Summer's wish to live independently. Henry resumed the conversation, saying, "Summer, I don't agree with you living on your own. I promised Uncle Kyle I would take care of you. You have to listen to me."
Summer, who had been sitting quietly by the stove, observed the entire scene. She hadn't paid much attention to what Logan and Henry were arguing about, as she was preoccupied with why she felt compelled to obey Henry's every word. She realized that the feeling of being spellbound diminished slightly when she looked at Logan instead of Henry.
So, she turned her gaze to Logan and said, "I don't need anyone to take care of me." She was relieved to have finally spoken up.
Henry frowned at her. Summer had always followed him around, never questioning his decisions or causing any trouble. Her sudden defiance unsettled him. He asked sternly, "What's gotten into you today?"
Summer avoided his gaze, fearing she might lose control again. She focused on Logan's hands and said, "Nothing's wrong. I'm not imitating anyone; I just want to live on my own."
Henry's frown deepened. "Why?"
Summer replied without shifting her gaze, "Too many people. It's bothersome."
Henry's face hardened as he suppressed his frustration. Then, without warning, he stood up, kicked over a stool, and stormed out. The stool broke, and Charlie, who had been sitting next to him, fell to the ground.
Gabe hurriedly helped Charlie up, looking at Summer and saying, "What are you doing, Summer?"
With Henry gone, Summer felt much more at ease. She looked at Gabe and Charlie and said directly, "Please divide the food for me too."
Everyone was puzzled. They had all been getting along well together for so long, except for Logan, of course. Summer's sudden decision to separate seemed like she was drawing a line between them, which hurt their feelings, especially Henry's, who had grown up with her.
Lily forced a smile and said, "Summer, you can't be serious. Henry is really upset."
Summer looked at her and replied, "I'm not joking. Even if you all get mad and stop talking to me, I still want to live on my own."
In truth, even though they lived together, no one really paid her much attention or cared about her feelings.
Lily was at a loss for words, her smile freezing on her face.
Logan watched the scene unfold with an amused expression, crossing his arms and enjoying the drama.
***
By the riverbank, the air was damp and mingled with the mist rising from the water. Henry took a matchbox from his pocket, struck a match, and lit a cigarette. He tossed the spent match into the river and took a couple of drags, beginning to feel a bit more relaxed. Someone came and sat beside him.
Turning, he saw it was Sophia, the prettiest of the five female volunteers at their camp. She had been trained as a dancer since childhood, with long limbs, a slender waist, and a graceful demeanor.
Sophia pulled a candy from her pocket and offered it to Henry. "Have a candy. Smoking is bad for your lungs."
Henry declined the candy, continuing to smoke. "Life is tough. Living a long life isn't much good if it's not enjoyable."
He had always been carefree and disliked restrictions.
"Suit yourself," Sophia murmured, retracting her hand and popping the candy into her own mouth. She remained silent beside him, savoring her treat.
After finishing his cigarette, Henry crushed it on a rock and turned to Sophia. "You girls share a room. Do you know what's going on with Summer today?"
Sophia replied, "I don't know. She doesn't talk much."
Henry said, "She's never acted like this before. She was always so obedient."
Sophia turned to him, "Do you like obedient girls?"
Henry laughed. "What are you talking about? Summer grew up with me in the same neighborhood. She sees me as an older brother, and I see her as a sister. We're closer than real siblings."
Sophia knew he only saw Summer as a sister. She also knew Henry had a girlfriend back in the city, named Rose. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded yellow envelope, handing it to Henry. "Here, a letter from your girlfriend. I picked it up for you at the commune."
Henry took the letter, recognizing Rose's name on the envelope. He stared at it silently for a moment, then crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the river.
Sophia exclaimed, "What are you doing?"
Henry replied calmly, "I've already broken up with her. No need to keep dragging it out."
Sophia looked at him in disbelief. "You just throw it away without reading it? What if she doesn't want to break up? She wrote to you because she can't let go. How can you just toss it aside?"
Henry smiled, "Whether she can let go or not, it doesn't matter. She's in the army, and I'm here in the countryside. We have no future together. Dragging it out would only waste time for both of us. It's pointless. I decided to end it, so I won't look back."
Sophia shook her head. "You're heartless."
Henry defended himself, "I'm being realistic, for her own good."
Sophia didn't argue further. After a pause, she asked, "What kind of woman would it take to capture your heart, to make you lose sleep over her?"
Henry's playful side emerged. He leaned closer to Sophia, smiling mischievously. "Want to try?"
Sophia felt her face heat up and pushed him away. "I'm not interested."
Henry laughed, enjoying her reaction. As he was still chuckling, a voice called out, "Henry!"
He turned to see Gabe approaching through the night. Gabe reached him, panting. "Henry, we've already measured out Logan's share of the food. Summer still insists on living alone. No matter how we try to convince her, she won't change her mind. Should we give her the food or not?"
Henry felt a surge of frustration but kept silent for a moment before responding, "She's never been like this before. If we can't convince her, let her have her way. She won't last long on her own."
Gabe straightened up. "Alright, I'll go back and divide the food for her."
With that, he turned and left.
Henry watched him go, still feeling uneasy. After some thought, he turned to Sophia and said, "You girls talk more among yourselves. Could you try talking to her later and see what's bothering her?"
Sophia nodded, "Sure."